Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent, any of the characters or any of the dialogue that comes directly from the text.

Chapter 8

I make my way quickly to the infirmary, Tris still limp in my arms. I can't help but notice the confused and surprised looks I keep getting from everyone I pass. I keep my expression hard and hope it's enough to deter anyone from asking questions. I probably should have had one of the initiates bring her, Al could have easily done it. But seeing her bloody and broken, laying nearly motionless on the ground…I needed to make sure she was okay.

Reaching the glass doors of the infirmary, I turn my back to them, pushing my way through and backing into the narrow room. As I turn around the woman at the nursing station stands abruptly, looking at me with wide nervous eyes, frozen on the spot.

"She needs help," I bark at her, raising my eyebrows.

She looks confused for a moment before her eyes travel to the limp body in my arms and she immediately springs into action.

"Bring her this way," she says, waving her hand, as she makes her way over to the nearest bed. "What happened?"

I lay Tris down gently on top of the bed, her head rolls towards me.

"Combat trials," I respond to the nurse, breaking my watch on Tris.

She looks back and forth between Tris and me before speaking.

"How did it get to this point? Why didn't she conceded? Why did no one intervene?" she gives me a pointed look, barely concealing her disgust.

I feel that gnawing in the pit of my stomach return, the unfamiliar sensation of guilt taking over my senses. She's right, I should have stopped this.

"Are you going to help her or not?" I bite back.

She purses her lips at me before stepping forward to asses Tris' wounds.

"Of course. I'll take it from here," she responds.

I linger quietly watching as she opens a nearby drawer and begins to remove supplies working quickly.

I stand silently as she cleans the blood off of Tris' face and neck. I notice that she hasn't strayed far from Tris' head.

"Her side," I say my voice echoing through the near empty room.

She looks at me a bit confused, seemingly having forgotten my presence, and tilts her head questioningly.

"She was kicked…a lot…in her side," I expand.

She instantly reaches out and grasps the bottom of Tris' shirt, lifting it slightly before turning to face me once more.

"I'll have to take this off now," she states. "If there's nothing else you have to add, you can go."

I let my eyes run over Tris' body once more…I know it doesn't make any sense for me to stay, that she's in the nurses hands now…but there's something inside of me that needs to know she will be okay.

The nurse is looking at me now. Presumably waiting for me to either speak or leave.

I give her a hard look in return and make my way towards the door. When I reach the exit, I stop.

"Will she be okay?" I ask quietly, surprised at the vulnerable way in which the question escapes me. I don't turn around, not wanting to meet the nurse's gaze.

She sighs softly before saying, "She'll be fine." Her voice is gentle…comforting and I can't help but hate that she has been witness to my weakness.

I rip open the doors and make my way to the training room refusing to look back.

The balance of the fights are fairly uneventful. I can't seem to regain focus and when Four takes it upon himself to end the fights as he sees fit I don't stop him.

I wait for Four and the initiates to leave the training room before slowly walking towards the door. I briefly contemplate going to check on Tris. "Would you go check on anyone else, Eric?" I mumble to myself. The answer is no.

I continue walking and despite knowing it's a bad idea, I somehow find myself walking down the corridor that leads to the infirmary.

I turn the corner and take a step towards the familiar glass doors before noticing a handful of people inside. Al and Will are standing next to Tris' bed while Christina sits next to her.

My eyes land on Tris and I let out a sigh of relief. She's awake. I can't make out what she is saying, but despite the swelling and bruising I can tell that she is smiling. I linger quietly, watching their conversation, grateful that she is okay.

After entirely too long, I turn on my heels and make my way towards the dining hall. The guilt that has been with me for the majority of the day finally subsiding.

After dinner I head to the control room. When I arrive Max is leaving. I greet him with a nod in passing as I make my way into the room.

I scan the monitors quickly but find nothing of interest. I decide to take this time to work on my report for Jeanine. Unfortunately, I don't have too much to report. I think over how the transfers are progressing. So far no one really stands out as particularly Divergent.

Jeanine wanted me to keep a special eye on any Abnegation transfers but Tris is the only one and despite my initial impression of her, the qualities I have seen so far point towards Dauntless only.

I let out a frustrated grunt before writing up my report. Its short but to the point.

All quiet. Trials uneventful. Initiates progressing at expected rate.

I send it off wondering if Jeanine will be irritated with my lack of findings.

I make myself comfortable and continue scanning over the monitors, appreciating the quiet this room brings. I don't realize I have drifted off to sleep until I feel a hand on my shoulder, shaking me gently. I look up and find Zeke looking at me with a raised eyebrow.

"My shift is starting. Go get some sleep," he says with a small smile.

I stand up and shake my head, trying to orient myself.

"Thanks," I reply, standing up and making my way out the door. What time is it?

I cross paths with no one as I make my way through the quiet halls. It must be pretty late for complex to be this empty. As I turn the corner I suddenly find my chest colliding with someone. I look down only to find Tris catching her balance, hand against the wall.

"Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?" It comes out harsher, more scolding than I intended and Tris flinches.

"I'm fine," she says. "I'm going back to the dormitory."

My eyes wander over her face. Her left eye is swollen, nearly shut. Her bottom lip is puffy and split down the middle, a scab already forming. Her nose, a dark shade of purple. Peter really did a number on her.

"You're not fine," I say, my brows furrowed. "You should go back to the infirmary."

"No," she says sternly. My eyes widen, surprised by her tone.

"I mean…" she begins, calmer. "I don't want to go back. I need to go to the dormitory."

Need?

"Need?" I ask. "Why do you need to go back?"

"I…" she trails off.

I raise my eyebrows and motion with my hand for her to continue.

"Go on."

She takes a deep breath.

"I already let Peter put me in the hospital, I can't let him put me in here overnight," she looks away from me as she rushes to get it out, almost afraid she will lose her nerve if she slows down.

I cock my head, not used to this side of her. She's embarrassed. How does she not realize how amazing she was today? She has nothing to be embarrassed about. She fought her heart out.

"Tris," I say.

She turns her head quickly looking up at me. I realize this is the first time I've called her by name.

I bend down slightly, meeting her gaze.

"Screw Peter," I say. She scoffs but keeps her eyes locked on mine.

"Screw him" I start again. "I mean it. Peter is a dick. And yeah, he kind of kicked your ass today. But you should be proud of yourself."

"For what?" she says apprehensively. "For getting my butt kicked?"

"No, for never giving up. For fighting until the bitter end. For showing everyone that you aren't a coward."

She breaks our eye contact, looking down while wrapping her arms around herself.

"Hey, look at me," I say. I have to suppress the urge to put my finger beneath her chin and tilt her head up towards me.

After a beat, she looks up at me through her lashes. I know I should shut up before I say something I'll regret but I can't seem to stop.

"Don't you dare be embarrassed about the way things played out today. Peter is bigger and stronger than you but you didn't go down easily. When you got knocked down you picked yourself up again and again. You kept that fight going and you refused to give up and that is something to be proud of."

She's still looking at me, her expression soft…grateful and I feel myself melting just a little.

Eric…you have a reputation to uphold. What are you doing? SHUT UP. Walk away NOW.

"Look, if you don't want to go back to the infirmary…I can't force you. But when you see Peter tomorrow…when you see any of them…walk tall and walk proud," I say.

She lets her arms fall to her sides and straightens out her stance. "Okay," she says simply.

"Okay," I repeat. We stay there for a moment, looking at each other. "Goodnight Tris," I say after a while, stepping to the side and making my way around her.

I am halfway down the hall when I hear her voice once more.

"Eric," she calls out softly.

I turn and look back at her.

She tilts her head slightly, a small smile appearing on her lips.

"Thank you," she says, barely above a whisper, before turning and walking away.

I was a bit nervous to post this chapter. I hope I'm making it believable that he would be starting to fall for her while not jumping too, too far from his actual character. Again, he obviously has to be a bit OOC for the story to work, but still.

Thanks for reading! Would love to hear and comments or feedback you might have!

-MWB